Picture the scene. Chelsea lose 25-0. Furore erupts because suddenly a team has had almost half of their goals scored put past them in one game. Would you be upset?

Of course the above is exaggerated for dramatic effect, but the reality is that Aston Villa shipped five goals, almost half of their total scored this season.

There are a million things that I could say as a fan that have probably been said earlier and better by others from the point that Charlie Austin has scored more goals than our entire team.

Wait a minute. Charlie Austin has scored more goals than Villa have this season? Aren’t QPR in the bottom three, and without a manager due to Harry Redknapp finally being found out having issues with his knee?

The truth is this – this season makes no sense on any level, and has taken my feeling from numb to as though I’m inhabiting some form of surrealist nightmare.

Why? As I’ve said before, I’ve questioned if I’m renewing my season ticket for the first time in almost 20 years, simply because I don’t enjoy games any more.

There’s a wider argument about whether I’ve fallen out of love with the modern game, and maybe I have, but that would detract from the more specific point – that I’ve fallen out of love with the club.

I’ve fallen out of love with Villa because I’ve seen seven goals at home this season. Seven. Goals.

I appreciate that Villa have some of the cheapest season tickets in the league but, come on, seven goals? Arsenal probably could have got seven at the weekend.

It wasn’t that long ago that we were challenging on a fairly consistent basis for a top eight finish. Nowadays? Not so much.

Yes, the Martin O’Neill days were far from halcyon times, but the truth is that we still gave teams a go. The squad? Yes, it was overpaid, and there were a million (OK, maybe not a million, but a fair few) players who were rubbish, but there was some sense of excitement, even if it wasn’t the tika-taka style that many hipsters stroke their beards over.

Nowadays overpaying is not really a feasible option, but then it feels very much the case that entertainment is similarly distant in its possibility. As a fan I have fairly simple needs – a few wins and a pint or two – but I’m wondering where the former is coming from.

Logic used to say that beating the smaller teams would be how you’d get your points, but we’re not consistently good at that. Similar logic would say Villa, on their day, would get an upset against the big boys, but nowadays it seems more that we’re resigned to being humbled.

Speaking of bigger teams, ask yourself – honestly – when was the last time Villa went into a cup game against a team in the league below appearing as though it was the Villans who were the underdogs? Yes, we beat Bournemouth, but issues have led us to a cold, harsh reality that expectations are lower than ever.

I won’t go for the popularist view and claim that this is some dark and evil trick by Randy Lerner to make us appear grateful for the odd win and nothing more, but I do fear for the future. I fear for it not because of survival – I think we have the capability to do that – but because it is getting so darn dull as time progresses.

What I’m finding as time goes by is that I have a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach when I’m due to go to matches. Why should I inflict this sort of thing on myself? “Inflict” certainly seems the most appropriate word when I consider this was another season of £600+ to turn up. Would I really put up with such nonsense if this wasn’t a club I was born to support?

The answer is probably no, but I’m stuck with Villa, much like every family is stuck with that one uncle who always drinks too much, insults everyone, and throws up in the corner – it’s an awkward relationship, and one that is probably best off hidden.

So, as we await a game against Chelsea at the weekend, fear is rising in me. What will happen is anyone’s guess, but the sad fact is I have to face up to a reality I’ve never felt in my almost-36 years on the planet.

I’m ashamed of my team.

Comments 65

  1. l fell out of love with the villa a few seasons ago Matt , been to a few games and left early as l found it numbing just watching and l could,nt fathom the tactics ,formations ect, and l think it really struck home with me last week as whilst in my car dropping my daughter to her rehearsals , she picked up one of my hats which l keep in the car , she asked ” can l wear this hat as its freezing in the rep ” then she saw it was a villa one and said ” l’d rather freeze than let people know lm a villa fan ” and she left it , but it made me think about my other 2 nephews who have given up as both have said they have better things to spend their money on, as you know ones a cage fighter and the other one stated he’ll just follow his cousin around the country and abroad , and it looks like l and chris’s dad will do the same , my brother wont be renewing and as steamer said in the other post there were 7 steamers who have given up paying to go watch that crap , as you say ” 7 goals ” and a so called premiership team at that and l just find lambert has no shame , but as its been stated before by other lifers he has reason to walk and he is’nt going to get sacked as the idiots surrounding him see no fault , well if they’re happy with whats on show , they can go watch it , l wont as will the other lads who were with me in the pub , l do see us going down , l really cant see where the next goal is coming from , and strangely l feel calm about it , as nothing is going to change , so l wont bother ,

    yes we had one of them uncle things in our corner , only it was’nt a relative it was sww ,

    steamer it looks like tomorrow to go to the george pub to see if we all got banned from there , oh hum

  2. How do you think I feel?!?!? I’m traveling to bloody Hull and Newcastle this month to watch our shower of site 🙂

    We all know it’s disgraceful. We have an owner who’s past caring. A new CEO who seems as much of a knob as the last one, and there’s Paul Lambert . No emotion in his interviews what so ever

    Sad thing is, we are on the verge of going 12 hours without a goal. We could then beat Hull, and to Lamberk and the board, just one win would make up for it all

    St75- for got sake don’t let her support Villa. You want her to be happy don’t you ??

  3. Hiya Frem , at newcastle l would stay in the pub as sometimes it like watching ants as your so far up in the gods , and you must love travelling , come to southampton with us as were staying in Bournemouth for the weekend , a couple will be going the game if you fancy a relegation party , and frem l think jessie has already made that decision , hope alls well on the job front , was with TC yesterday , he sends his best to you , we have a extension coming up and IF (big If!!!) we work on a saturday , you will have to drop over ,
    can someone explain the point of these half “n” half scarves , some twat got villa /chelsea ones to sell ,Really!!!!. also saw a few pin badges with both teams on , why?? can you imagine a villa /baggies or vermin ! some sad fucks around .
    Thankfully l will be watching my daughter perform at the Old Rep saturday , there is a god !

  4. There’s not a lot positive to say in response to this Matt.
    Even your regular contributors have deserted the site, although a couple still comment.
    I can understand your reluctance to renew your season ticket and Steamer75’s daughter’s aversion to publicising that she supported Villa – I remember the last time we were heading out of the top division a guy standing near me shouted ‘Bloody Hell Villa, get a grip = we have to live round here!’

    I don’t live round there any longer and I’m glad I no longer have a season ticket; I’ve reached the point where I no longer bother to watch the games, I watch the highlights on MOTD – it doesn’t last long when you’re last!

  5. Clive,

    I haven’t gone (yet)! 🙂 I now only post about once a month. It was because of other commitments more than anything else but I must admit I’d now find it difficult to drum up something original as things are going now. Next week may well be my next epistle – post-Chelsea.

    Matt,

    Despite the tone, I enjoyed your article as it is straightforwardly honest.

    I wonder about the upcoming match. I wonder what sort of mentality the players are in, but I can’t imagine them being particularly buoyed up if Lambert is the man that does the motivating.

    He should get ‘Arry in part-time to liven things up a bit.

  6. Well Matt that has ruined my day, I remember when you started this site and there are still a few hardcore left from those early days, we would comment on our team although not brilliant it was moving in the right direction, we used to have a laugh along the way.
    What a difference we see today, a team and club void of any idea as to what it takes to win a game even score a goal, how times have changed, we struggle to even make fun of it which is a major surprise as Brummies are a self deprecating lot at the worst of times.

    The thing is most of us have been about long enough to have seen some bad times at VP and most will struggle to remember it being as bad as we are witnessing today, to get the feeling that no one at the club gives a flying feck at our position is completely depressing, to know the people in charge do not have the first clue what Aston Villa stands for is nothing short of infuriating, at least Ellis understood the game and what it meant, Lerner and Fox are taking us into the unknown, while allowing Lambert to ruin everything we stood for and get paid royally for doing so.

    That once proud Lion on our club crest, the old one not this shitty new one must be crying tears of shame, Aston Villa was once a name that oozed class and standing in football, now the whole world laughs at us and think we are a joke, and who can blame them because it hurts to say it is too close to the truth.

    We know damn well Saturday is going to end in defeat but the question is how many will they beat us by in saying that what can inspire any Villan to go and pay to watch us get rolled over, at least they can watch some footballers, some with real talent like Hazard, yes a team built on Russian money but would we swap that for what we have at VP, you bet your fucking life we would.

    AVFC RIP

  7. Hi mate

    I went to Newcastle when Big Feck was manager. We lost of course. I was shattered taking the steps, probably go in the lift this time!!!
    ye, don’t mind traveling. Now I’ve got a job, I can afford it. Only been to Burnley so far. Getting the coach to Hull but driving my self to Newcastle. What was the name of the guys you know who have there own mini bus to games? I think I see them on Twitter.
    Southampton would be great mate.
    How is TC mate? Hope he’s doing better. And yes, if you have that job, I’d love to pop over. I have 6 days holiday to take before end of March so could pop in then for a few days

  8. Oh and wait for Lamberts” we tried to one or two things ” in his interview today

    Either it was a PR stunt

    Or

    We actually had Money but Lambert decided to only bid it with 10 mins remaining

    Either one, it’s a disgrace

  9. Does anyone remember the article on Lerner that mentioned that he regarded Cleveland Browns as his Daddies club and he wanted to build up AVFC for himself ? Failed again Randolph.
    “Randy and myself have the utmost faith in Paul” well the utmost faith of a couple of totally ignorant football novices doesn’t actually count for much as shown by our results. Randy had the utmost faith in Faulkner too, fans correct about him as well as everything else but typical know it all Billy Big Bollox yanks never listen. Has he got one decision right yet ?
    As one of the more optimistic folk on here i’m sad that Matt has succumbed to the malaise, unfortunately the situation won’t improve while these carpetbaggers and parasites are infesting VP, In my opinion when the club drops so will the value, we’ll have to sell anyone who can kick a ball with the result being further relegation(s) and possible closure, Much as i’d love to see Lerner on Skid Row we still have a small group of genuine fans who don’t deserve this fate.

  10. Just had a squint at the OS, ye gods, where did they get that much BS from ? have they no self respect ? clutching at more straws than a scarecrow having a tommy tank.

  11. It’s a hell of a long way mate but I don’t know if I can be stuck in a coach all that way

    Anyway, I’m going down Friday night and staying at my mate’s the night.

    What they saying on the OS?

  12. To give you an idea, Sheffield Wednesday are a big club with a large fan base and very good potential have just been sold for 30m squids, i doubt Lerner would get 80m if we were a Champ club.

  13. just heard howard and gould on vital what are fox and lerner smoking we are maybe worst team in pl history sorry rephrase worst manager 12 points from 57 7 goals in that spell 13 without scoring seen john doyle put up another stat only 4 goals in last 41 second halfs and tom fox says its only spin of coin if we improve well no it aint it couldnt get any worse get chelsea out of road get new man in sunday give players lift send cleverly back to utd go 442 with
    guzan
    hutton
    clark
    okore
    sissko
    sanchez
    delph
    sinclair
    grealish
    benteke
    gil
    subs
    given
    lowton
    baker
    westwood
    bacuna
    wiemen
    gabby

    nice neat back 4 with sanchez covering tell sinclair grealish whip into benteke with gil of him subs gabby for last 10 fullbacks defend first notplaying of benteke

  14. Completely agree JG, disiplined back 4, no heroics, ball getter in Sanchez, ball distribution in Delph, Sinclair and Grealish providing the ammunition and Gil sitting just behind Benteke so he’s not alone upfront and can pull defenders out of position.

  15. Hi Matt n all

    I deffo havent fallen out of love with villa , hance why i am so gutted with the current going on’s

    JG great team and set up – the only change i would consider from that is sanchez for westy -maybe

    Lee Hendrie hit the nail on the head for me in terms of lamberts tactics – unless he changes it we are going to struggle right to the last game as we are no were near getting the best out of what we have

  16. Nailed it Matt, I don’t think I’ve fallen out of Love with Villa… just think our marriage has got boring. I don’t feel like the Villa care about me and with any relationship its a two way thing, you want to feel valued.

    I just don’t understand so much of what is going on at the Villa at the moment, Villa just doesn’t talk to me anymore, it talks at me. It’s not like a disagree with decisions but can understand the reasoning, I just see the blind leading the blind… there is no plan, there is no direction… sad sad times.

    Me and my Villa are going on a “break” not getting a divorce, I’m not going to cheat on her, and I’m hoping with time absence makes the heart grow fonder.

  17. Guys, Lambert won’t ever play anything but a 433/451

    and cleverly has a clause saying he must start games so he has to fit him in, delph and Sanchez

    442 4231 would be lovely but won’t ever happen. Start Sinclair, grealish but won’t happen. Gabby and Wiemann will have to start

  18. Still no good news, and Grealish is being farmed out.

    If nothing happens at Villa Park within the next few days then it is the end of this club. Everyone just wondering how many Chelsea will put past us on Saturday, and that is a complete disgrace. Everyone except Lerner and Fox is calling for Lambert to resign or be sacked……how can he continue to ignore the rest of the world…perhaps he is hanging on until his mate Jergen Klopp walks from Borissa Dortmund..

    I am now feeling that I will not go to the Chelsea game and that Leicester City will be the last time for me, unless things change.

    Glad to hear things are going well for you Frem. Have a great time up on Tyneside.

  19. Paul,

    Dortmund bottom of the Bundisliga just goes to show those jeerman coaching badges are forth f all.

    Lambert ain”t going nowhere any time soon, Fox would have to go first after his little speech the other day about tossing the coin, not going to happen peeps, they are taking us down just watch Sherwood get QPR playing and getting results.

    AVFC RIP

  20. Read something that jogs alongside one of my theories, rather than attempting the futile and asking 200m for Villa Lerner has got Fox in to improve revenues so he can sell cheaper, he has 2018 in mind which is when Lamberts contract runs out, however, relegation blows that target out of the water so Lerners really dropped himself in a bucket of poo, unfortunately it means that Villa will be stuck with the winker and i can see thousands of Villans walking away forever. It would be nice to be informed of the clubs intentions but that would involve a modicum of decency on their behalf, however thats on the head because L,F & L are scum.

  21. Graham,
    Know exactly how you feel, we’re not only not valued we’re abused, believe me i know dozens of diehards who won’t set foot in VP while this lot are in controland i’m one of them. All the best.

  22. frem , his name is Perksy and l will text you his mobile , l will let him know who you are , it will be his coach for southampton ,
    when l say fell out of love , i suppose l mean l dont look forward or have any gut feeling to go down to the ground , no excitement and the days of teams feeling just that bit apprehensive coming to VP has gone , nah forget that , l have fell out of love ,

    steamer forgot to tell you , l saw Jayo the nose on hurst lane the cheeky fuck even had the nerve to say he felt sorry for me , mind l could’nt argue with him ,and he did ask about the steamer lads , he took a few slaps off us during the 70s lol, at least they got rid and are not doing to bad with the same players , time to get a pink panther film out methinks , before l get a plane to see a swiss doctor ,

  23. have it as gospel from sid that when mon was at bodymoor heath all the players had to do sprinting and shuttle runs and all there times where put on a board in the dressing room Gabby used to be able to do 100 meters in 11 .6 and that at the time was the quickest in all the prem he reckons that now he does it in 12.9 you do not have to be Einstein to see where his pace has gone that is about 9 yards slower over 100 meters and that shows on the pitch also all the players weights used to be displayed in the dressing room and gabby was 11 6 he is now over 13 .that is just him but no sprints or times or weights of players are now displayed which only goes to back up my statement of 4 second half goals in the last 41 games in that the players are totally unfit and cannot last 90 mins as Sunday quite clearly showed how can a pro team be run and trained in this way any thoughts

  24. A veil of secrecy hangs over VP ( nice cliche there ), good job because they’re all compulsive liars.
    JD 11.6 ? I was doing that at school, no bull.

  25. Gabby is arguably the least talented most overpaid footballer i’ve ever seen at VP, apart from being totally crepe and unproductive he is unprofessional until its contract renewal time, Fox & Lambert gave him the last one because they thought it would make them popular with the fans ( GA hadn’t been found out by the dummies then ) but that fiendish plan failed like all the others coming out of VP. We’re stuck with him now, ta a bunch F & L. …………… 50,000 a week, can’t believe it, wouldn’t get a game for Walsall.

  26. steamer 11.6 yes i can believe it the way you shot on that pitch at Mansfield and went on your arse those where Happy days 11.6 in the old sheepskin as well unbelievably quick gaz

  27. JD , at mansfield , l dont think anyone was surprised to see him on his arse , anyone who played with him ; that is ! always wondered why he had 3 football boots in his adidas bag . along with his nail on leather studs , and you could tell he coached sww , sheepskins eh! lost mine while working on a roof in Portland road Edgbaston, blew off and never seen again .

    steamer who you calling a fat git ? frem ?? , bit rude ya lump .
    put that picture of Bella on Facebook and someone thought l pulled her last saturday , especially with her legs akimbo !!

  28. steamer- 11.6 at school or running away from it?

    just watching a program on Auschwitz to cheer myself up, come on lads if the people who went through that can see the good side of life even brummies can muster a titter.

    I’ve talked to a few lads on site recently and to a man they think Villa belong in the top 6 and were genuinely upset we could go down so there is some love for our club out there just not from our fans or the management. tomorrow England play Wales in the rugby please God don’t let us lose or this is going to be one weekend of misery.

    I would use this match to remember how to defend, fullbacks on a chain and the midfield hunting the ball down.
    on the fitness front I was amazed when Delph said he had his own fitness coach? personally I don’t think we were fit enough during Mons time either, it seems to be a long time problem for me.
    survive this weekend or at least try for a point then I think we can get something from the next few matches, I don’t care if we defend for 70 mins as long as we do it well and get the results. we did it for 5 matches no matter how poor it was, we need to do that again and forget possession stats.

  29. JD- that was his maths result

    One small point lads, coming on a blog and telling everyone who cares to read it that you no longer love villa is a bit like telling everyone who you come across your over your ex have a word with yourselves 😉

  30. Dunno why we get peed off, even if we stay up its going to be the same next year. Michael Owen reckons we’ve a decent squad, i wonder why we’re struggling ? oh thats it, we’ve got a knob as manager. For the good of AVFC i suggest that the fans stay away.

  31. Well.

    I had hoped for some good news by now, but nothing has changed…..Get Keane back, sack Lambert and make Clarke captain, give Grealish a run, and we may have something to hope for…..

    Otherwise it is looking like the Championship and obscurity……

  32. clive
    good read in guardianhard to believe he was given new contract if you take them 1 four games out 99 stats really lopsided 97 goals in 99 matches 4 in second half of last 41
    lerner is some dope new tv deal coming decides at 7.30 close transfer window go for striker we new when we played first 4 matches we needed one last window but he gives the gift cleverly that never gives please let vlar do him in training then we ll not see the cnut
    please after tomorrows embarsment lambert gets road and anyone even tealady in charge for hull match

  33. Clive,

    Another good article but Christ is it only 100 games it feels like he has been in charge for a 1000,

    “But our season won’t be defined by Arsenal [the 5-0 loss last Sunday] and Chelsea. It will be after that we have to get wins.”

    Well if your manager does not believe you can beat Chelsea at home what chances have you really got, they have scored 5 times the goals that we have and the bookies make us 11/1 to win a game at VP tomorrow .

    Its going to be another defeat but by how many who knows, are we getting Lambert a card?

    AVFC RIP

  34. ST75,

    This a monumental day indeed with the emphasis on mental, but I agree with you about the half scarves WTF is happening to football supporters that you are allowed to wear the other teams colours and not get slapped, in my book if I was walking past Witton Station and I saw a Villa fan wearing one of those he would get my boot right up the jacksie, its fucking nonsense and anyone wearing one deserves a good kicking.
    Colours were invented so we could tell who was who, if everyone wore each others colours there would be mayhem.

    Like you said if we played the scum from down the road would our lot wear half claret/blue and half blue/white, what is happening to todays fans.

    And for that reason I am out.

    AVFC RIP

  35. No problem if Cleverley has a clause saying he starts every game if fit – just sub him after 30 secs, no, make that 1 min we don’t want to humiliate him.

  36. Savage has us staying up and our remaining home games are winnable in theory, my god we could end up in the real mid-table and all you doom merchants will be proven wrong.

    Lamberk for manager of the year, he broke countless records this season, managed to play 4 midfielders in the same position at the same time, the man’s a genius and judging by his interviews has also invented his own language as I can’t understand a word he says. He has also developed a worlds first in tactics, playing without the football for 90+ minutes and managing to stay awake the entire time.

    Fox has managed in a few short months to both alienate the hard core support and promise the happy clappers European football, probably based on another pre-season friendly vs. Shamrock Rovers. No other CEO has achieved this in such a short space of time.

    Lerner, huge man crush on this man, lead us from the vallley of despair that was O’Leary and Ellis, created the first ever ownership model that didn’t require attendance, thus boosting internet usage for streaming games and managed to avoid being interviewed by anyone for 8 years. He has very cleverly (no pun intended) created a new Christmas panto based on a decision to sell then not sell, then sell and so on. The will he/won’t he suspense is killing thousands of eager fans.

    The team, as a collective unit and without isolating anyone out for praise or abuse, have managed to keep up their media duties around telling everyone how brilliant Lamberk is and not laughing and at the same time managed to stand still the longest during football matches which have traditionally required running.

    Villa PR what an organisation, buried neck high in sand and only come out to defend Villa with tales of famous people who love Villa so much that can’t bring themselves to talk about the present but focus on past legends and how busy they are that they can no longer attend games

    Villa what a place, what a business, what a football team

  37. SWW. brother -in-law asked me after we done the watering hole ,” how do you know the difference between you and blues fans if none of you are wearing colours ? ” “easy, they’re all fucking ugly ” must admit l did wonder about Mark on the meet up!!!!
    sww do you fancy trying to meet up in bournemouth after the southampton game , should be able to sneak you in the hotel for the night , bring some earplugs as wizza snores for England , and next week expect a call from wizza , do you owe him ??

    great pic going round on F/B with lamberk posing with 2015 Guinness Book Of records ,

    have a good weekend all

    Jenny xxxx

  38. ST75.

    Yeah they had some ugly bastards although we had some belters, Loon and Steamer took ugly to a different level.

    Bournemouth should be ok although its a shit hole I will come down for the night as long as I don”t have to bunk in with Steamer, if I do owe Wizza there”s not a chance he will remember he struggled to remember the score at 4.40.

    AVFC RIP

  39. Well Matt – so say all of us and that is the difference between football supporters and consumers – we can’t support another club – but there comes a point when enough is enough and maybe our falling gates will force change eventually.

    In times of stress humour is a great tonic and sorry to bore again – but I still laugh at Paul Reid – and his words are becoming even less ridiculous as time goes on
    “i thought Benteke was fantastic – he was in the box three times – yes once was to tie his boot lace but one pass to another player was world class” 🙂 For Frem out there 🙂
    “We are working our socks off to b ring in average football players to our average team and we are working day and night to guarantee a finish in the bottom 5”. These are becoming alarmingly reality !! https://uk.video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=A9mSs2dnstRUHV8AQktLBQx.;_ylu=X3oDMTB1YXI2azVkBHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2lyMgR2dGlkA1ZJUFVLMTZfMQ–?p=paul+lambert+spoof&tnr=21&vid=85c99c7665aea416f013fbc224b54366&l=234&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts3.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DUN.607985993098593854%26pid%3D15.1&sigi=11rpg366d&rurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DrphCEiJ7cuk&sigr=11bjia5rh&tt=b&tit=Paul+Lambert+-+Post+match+interview+%28Paul+Reid%29&sigt=11fo0upo6&back=https%3A%2F%2Fuk.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%3Fp%3Dpaul%2Blambert%2Bsppoof%26type%3DB010GB80034D20140927%26fr%3Dmcafee%26ei%3DUTF-8&sigb=135licmkb

  40. Jen,
    He does a very good Mourinho too and his mate does the Tat Spanish Waiter to a t but i agree Lambert is the peak.
    SWV,
    Don’t worry mate, i aint going.
    Darren,
    And all true too.

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